iPhone (iOS) · Display & Sound
Let iPhone Detect When You're Looking at It
Attention Aware Features use the TrueDepth camera on Face ID-equipped iPhones to keep the screen on and dim alert volume when it detects you're looking at the display, and to keep it unlocked while you're viewing it.
How to open Attention Aware Features
- Open Settings → Face ID & Passcode
- Enter your passcode if prompted
- Toggle Attention Aware Features on
- Test by reading content near the Auto-Lock timeout to confirm the screen stays active
What you should know
- Delays Auto-Lock dimming while attention is detected on the screen
- Lowers ringer/alert volume automatically once it detects you're looking at the phone during an alert
- Requires Face ID hardware; unavailable on Touch ID-only models
- Works alongside, not instead of, the standard Auto-Lock timer
Why it matters
Attention Aware Features smooth out one of the more common frustrations with a fixed Auto-Lock timer: the screen dimming or locking while someone is actively reading, simply because a set number of seconds passed without a touch. By using the camera to confirm genuine attention, iPhone can extend usability without requiring a longer, less battery-efficient Auto-Lock timeout for everyone all the time. The alert-volume-lowering behavior is a smaller but genuinely useful courtesy, quieting a loud notification the moment you look at the phone.
Best practices
- Keep Attention Aware Features enabled if you frequently read long content like articles or messages
- Understand it works alongside, not as a replacement for, your Auto-Lock timer setting
- Disable it only if experiencing noticeable battery impact or camera-related performance concerns
- Test in different lighting conditions, since low light can reduce detection reliability
Common problems and fixes
- Screen still dims while reading
- Ensure Attention Aware Features is enabled under Settings > Face ID & Passcode and the camera has a clear, unobstructed view
- Feature isn't available
- Confirm the device has Face ID hardware; Touch ID models don't support Attention Aware Features
- Alert volume doesn't lower as expected
- Confirm you're looking directly at the front camera area when the alert plays
Tips and tricks
- Combine with a longer Auto-Lock timer for the most seamless reading experience without oversized battery cost
- Keep the TrueDepth camera area clean for the most reliable attention detection
Frequently asked questions
Does this feature record video?
No, it uses the TrueDepth camera for real-time attention detection without recording or storing images.
Can it be used with a screen protector or case?
Generally yes, as long as the front camera area remains unobstructed.
Does it affect battery life noticeably?
Its impact is generally minor since detection uses efficient, low-power camera processing.
Related settings
- Display & BrightnessDisplay & Brightness settings control screen brightness, True Tone, Dark Mode, text size, and Night Shift for warmer colors in the evening.
- Sign-In & SecuritySign-In & Security is where you change your Apple ID password, view your two-factor authentication trusted phone numbers, and manage which devices are trusted to approve sign-ins.
- Auto-LockAuto-Lock determines how long iPhone waits without any touch input before dimming and locking the screen, balancing convenience against battery life and security.
More Display & Sound guides for iPhone (iOS)
- NotificationsNotification settings let you control exactly how each app alerts you — as a banner, a sound, a badge, or grouped into a scheduled summary — so your Lock Screen and Notification Center reflect what actually deserves your attention.
- Sounds & HapticsSounds & Haptics controls ringtone and alert tones, ringer and alert volume, and the tactile vibration feedback (haptics) your iPhone provides for calls, texts, and everyday interactions like typing.
- FocusFocus lets you silence distracting notifications based on what you're doing — like Work, Sleep, or Personal time — while still allowing calls and alerts from specific people or apps you choose to come through.
- True ToneTrue Tone uses ambient light sensors to automatically adjust the display's white balance and intensity to match surrounding lighting conditions, keeping colors looking natural under different light sources.
- Night ShiftNight Shift automatically shifts the iPhone display to warmer colors on a schedule or from sunset to sunrise, reducing blue light exposure that can interfere with sleep when using the device at night.
- Dark ModeDark Mode changes the system interface and supported apps to a dark color scheme, and can be set to switch automatically at sunset and sunrise or on a custom schedule.